Thomas Conwell Schoonenberg Sr.

Thomas Conwell Schoonenberg Sr. passed away in New Orleans on Thursday, November 16th, 2017 at the age of 90. Tom was preceded in death by his beloved Son Anton James Schoonenberg, his wife of thirty-six years, Evelyn Boyne Schoonenberg, and his brothers Frank Conwell and Jim Schoonenberg. He will be missed by his dear sister Sally Schoonenberg McCauley and his surviving children, John David Schoonenberg (Rhonda), Nancy Schoonenberg Smith (Tom), and Thomas Conwell Schoonenberg Jr. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Alaine Smith Wehlen (Nick), Sara Smith Atkinson (Tommy), Spencer Rome Schoonenberg (Brooke), Robert Boyne Smith (Anna), Emily Louise Schoonenberg, and William Darrell Smith. In addition to his children and grandchildren Tom is survived by six great-grandchildren and numerous other family and friends. Tom was a second generation American born in Appleton, Wisconsin to Anton John Schoonenberg of Utrecht, Holland and Nancy Conwell of Dubuque, Iowa. Eager to do his patriotic duty as an American, he enlisted in the Merchant Marine at the tender age of 17. He sailed as Ordinary Seaman on the Victory ship SS Guatemala in the Pacific Theater, calling on the exotic ports of Saipan, Tinian and the Eniwetok Atoll, places at that time rarely called upon by Westerners. After the war, Tom embarked on a domestic journey when he hopped on his Harley Davidson Flathead and headed south from Wisconsin, bound for Louisiana and opening a radio station with his brother Frank. This is where Tom met his sweet-voiced wife, Evelyn, who often came to the station to sing songs on the air. Though originally from the Mid-west, Tom grew to develop a strong bond with the environs of Terrebonne Parish, happily fishing the bayous for redfish and speckled trout. Tom’s passion was fine, American-made automobiles; the prize of his collection was a bright red 1930 Ford Model A truck that he painstakingly and lovingly maintained in pristine condition. It brought him great joy to parade his truck, accoutered as an antique fruit and vegetable stand, down Houma’s Main Street with the Houma Antique Car Club. He was a 4th Degree Grand Knight, in the Knights of Columbus. Tom was a kind, stolid man and a faithful Roman Catholic who was committed to his family and loved by many people. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Visitation on Tuesday, November 21, 2017 beginning at 8:30AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 from the Chapel of Our Lady of Wisdom, 5600 General De Gaulle Dr. in New Orleans. Interment in Houma at 1:30 PM at St. Francis Cemetery #2. Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, LA 70058 in charge of arrangements.